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BAILEY'S TAKE
ON PIRATE SPORTS
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From the Anchor Desk
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
By Brian Bailey |
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Dodge grows into a
Giant
By
Brian Bailey
©2010 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
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Matt Dodge |
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(ECU SID image) |
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The New York Giants
drafted two Pirates this
past April, Linval
Joseph and Matt Dodge.
Joseph has yet to sign.
Dodge inked a four-year
deal worth almost two
million dollars,
contingent on him making
the squad. He should do
just that for several
years, after Jeff
Feagles retired and Jy
Bond was cut.
Dodge was a guest
instructor last week at
the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes
annual special teams
camp for punters,
kickers and snappers.
“I enjoy getting around
some of the guys and
sharing God’s love with
these kids,” said Dodge.
“Punting a football
gives me a platform to
talk to these guys and
it’s an honor.”
Dodge was a hit with the
Giants at the club’s
minicamp after the
draft. The former West
Carteret standout still
can’t believe he’ll be
punting on Sundays.
“It’s been a whirlwind
because it’s certainly
something that I didn’t
expect," he said.
"Growing up and playing
sports, if you would
have asked me if I would
play in the NFL, I
didn’t know what that
was. For me to make a
living punting the
football, it’s great and
it’s definitely a
blessing.”
Former East Carolina
coach Skip Holtz often
bragged about the
physical style that Matt
Dodge brought to the
game. Dodge was a
chiseled specimen and
has always enjoyed
working out.
He once got his weight
up to 245 pounds, but he
felt he lost flexibility
at that weight. Now,
he’s closer to a very
solid 220 pounds.
Dodge is spending this
summer getting set to
head to camp at the
University at Albany on
August 1st.
“I’m really just doing
what I have been doing,"
he said. "My position
hasn’t changed since
high school, so I’m just
preparing the same way.
It’s more technical with
the Giants, watching
film and getting ready.
I’m just trying to
stretch and stay in
shape.”
It’s one thing to play
in the National Football
League. It’s quite
another when you’re
playing in New York.
“One of the first things
Coach (Tom) Coughlin
said to us is that we
were in one of the
biggest markets in the
world,” Dodge continued.
“You don’t get much
bigger than New York.
I’ve had Giants fans
come out of the
woodwork. I’ll be in a
different state and
they’ll know who you
are.
"I’m really looking
forward to it. To end up
in the NFL, and in New
York, I’m certainly
blessed and I couldn’t
ask for anything else.”
Dodge told me that one
of his friends was
impressed that he’d be
giving “high fives” to
Giants quarterback Eli
Manning. Dodge laughed
at the thought, because
if Manning is having
success, Dodge won’t
have to punt.
“It’s not like I’m going
to go up and say, ‘Nice
three and out Eli,
thanks for giving me a
chance to punt it
away,’” he joked.
Dodge says he’ll
continue his summer
preparations, gearing up
for August and the start
of camp.
He was genuinely excited
about getting the chance
to work with the young
players at last week’s
camp.
The campers were just as
excited about seeing
Matt Dodge with the New
York Giants come
September!
BB
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